Williams sees light and hopes to darken Navy's day

Irish nose guard getting dividends from renewed commitment

October 21, 2010|By Brian Hamilton, Tribune reporter

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Maybe as soon as the words left his mouth, fashioned by a brain roiled with frustration, Ian Williams knew he was in for it. He had said very publicly that Navy "out-schemed" Notre Dame in a victory last November, the sort of thing that does not agree with the schemers.

What Williams could not know was how his schedule would lighten the next week. Jon Tenuta, the Irish's defensive coordinator, banned his starting defensive tackle from meetings as punishment. It made precious little sense, but Williams was not moved to appeal the judgment.

"I'm the type of person where I don't let a lot of things bother me like that," Williams said. "I just did what I needed to do. He didn't want me to be in meetings, so I didn't go to meetings."

How times and waistlines and attitudes have changed as this year's bout of Naval gazing approaches Saturday. Williams is the bulwark nose guard for the Irish, never before committed and well-conditioned like he is now, producing the most consistently effective play of his career.

The senior is sixth on the team with 31 tackles and has 31/2 tackles-for-loss, but it's the disruption and congestion his 315-pound frame causes that the Irish value. Especially against Navy, it is Williams' duty to discourage the fullback dive in the triple option. If he doesn't, the defense crumbles inside-out.

"He really has bought into our scheme," defensive line coach Mike Elston said. "We line him up on a center, and he beats his brains in, and then he goes and makes a tackle. When you're 315 pounds and you're the strongest guy on the field, it seems like that would be pretty easy to do."

Ever since he logged his first significant minutes versus Navy, actually, Williams has demonstrated ample talent. Just never for very long.

With the arrival of the new staff and conditioning regiment, out went the midnight fast food runs and up went Williams' squat max, for one, from 485 to 600 pounds. His "work volume," as Irish coach Brian Kelly likes to put it, jumped 10 to 15 plays per game.

"He just physically is able to go at a high rate for a longer period of time," Kelly said.

Essentially, maturity and camaraderie with Elston sparked better decision-making in all facets.

"I know what to work on," Williams said. "If I mess up anything, I know where to check myself and say, all right, coach, what do you think about this?

"(I'm) just being an older guy for my teammates, just trying to be a leader and lead by my example on the field."

It showed when Kelly called Williams' name as the defensive captain against Michigan State. For four years, Williams' mother pestered him about such an honor. When he called with the news, she cried. All of this has been a long time coming.

"Someone could go through all four years and not put it all together," defensive tackle Ethan Johnson said. "I feel like he's starting to put it all together."